Crime and Buckets
At left is a pic of the infamous Popeye's, Hollywood crime magnet, and gathering spot of drug culture. At the current evolution of Hollywood, inexpensive street corner hangouts (Popeye's, Greco's, McDonalds) provide an environment that encourages the crime that has plagued Hollywood for decades. Imagine a substation for any number of the highly mobile criminal occupations. Rivalled only by smoke shops and dark alleys, these once uplifting businesses are now slowing the growth of Hollywood, discouraging investment and interaction.

Picture the difference between a liquor store on the corner, and a store. Who goes? Who stays? What impression does it leave you with? When was the last time you turned down an unfamiliar street after a gritty fast food place/liquor store?

I'm not suggesting the removal of fast food (but not a bad idea), but placing different businesses on the corners. I say put the fast food in the middle of the block, let the corners move people to the stores.  ¶ 11:31 AM 0 comments

  The Romance of the Bus Recently the Transit TV's on the MTA have been showing a commercial for Transit Date, a dating service that is supposed to connect like-minded transit riders. Flavor this with your own pessimism, or take it as it comes.  ¶ 8:57 PM 0 comments

  FilmLA "Los Angeles location shoots down 6 percent"  ¶ 7:02 AM 0 comments

  Very Light Jet
High Speed Rail (links on right) has never been more important than now, when politicians are sweeping it under the bureaucratic rug, and normally environmentally minded companies such as Honda enter the VLJ market, in an effort to tap the wallets of the advantaged and future ignorant.  ¶ 6:49 PM 0 comments

  Juices Fountain Juices Fountain, that lovable jugoseria on Vine has found a new home at 1644 N. Wilcox Ave. (3 blocks West of Vine), with validated parking in the back.

For those of us who come to love the healthy fixings, and love to see an underdog survive eminent domain, this is truly great news.  ¶ 2:27 PM 0 comments

  Facade
San Francisco again, looking West through the facade to Columbus. Basement entryways can be seen on the bottom, which might have once linked to other buildings.  ¶ 7:31 AM 0 comments

 
An example of architecture in San Francisco.  ¶ 7:29 AM 0 comments

  Another Good Intention, Bad Idea






From the Herald Examiner collection

"Artist's view of a proposed Hollywood intermediate capacity transit system along Hawthorn Avenue. Here the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel is seen in the background. One opponent likens this Rapid Transit District elevated train to the turn-of-the-century systems in New York and Chicago. Photo date: July 25, 1982."  ¶ 10:10 AM 0 comments

  Tarnished Gold

Here we go again - another poorly thought out rail line. With virtually no restrictions, the Gold Line track plan still incorporates hard turns (reduced speed), and raised trackways that guarantee dysfunctional city space along the entire trackway. Time and again, in more cities worth mentioning, raised trackways and hazardous intersections offset the benefits of above ground rail. When will developers and planners learn? With a little more concrete and imagination an above ground eyesore could become an enclosed trackway with adjoining commercial space.

Of course this requires foresight and design sense, which politicians have proven short on. So, another project that will fail to integrate into the environment, and delay the much needed development for the Alameda corridor. Before the hard hats are even taken off, the zigzag of concrete tells it all.  ¶ 5:56 PM 0 comments